Adebisi Onanuga
A university don, Dr. Luqman Adedeji, has said the judiciary remains a critical stakeholder in guaranteeing security,reservation of peace, progress, and growth of a nation.
Dr. Adedeji who is the Head of the Department of Religious Studies, Faculty of Education, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka said the judiciary should be accorded its rightful place in national development emphasising “No Nation can grow and progress without the contribution of the Judiciary.”
Adedeji stated this while delivering a lecture titled, “The Judiciary and the Growth of a Nation: Islamic Perspective” at a special service held at the Lagos Central Mosque, Nnamdi Azikwe to usher in the 2020/2021 Legal Year.
He said: “Through advocating for the rule of law, the Judiciary is relied upon to contribute towards the inculcation of values of honesty and hard work among the citizenry.
“This would help in fighting corruption, promoting hard work, ‘patriotism, and saving culture with the view to contribute to the growth of a nation.”
He stated further: “the judiciary is the last hope of the Common Man” This statement truly underscores the importance of the Judiciary to the growth of a society and the nation at large.
“The judiciary remains the bedrock and or pillar upon which a Nation rests.
“Quite a number of researches by the World Bank have presented evidence to show that there are positive economic benefits of the strong effective judiciary; the degree of judicial independence is correlated with economic growth; competence of courts of law affects competitive economic competitiveness; better-performing courts lead to more developed credit market; a stronger Judiciary is associated with more rapid growth. ‘
“A virile, functional, and independent Judiciary is a shield that secures and protects those fundamental values and ethos of a Nation and helps to sustain its growth.
“The judiciary remains in the best position to inculcate the values 0f honesty, hard work, and patriotism among the teeming population of any Nation while preserving peace and national security through its justice delivery’ System. ‘
“The fight against corruption and other vices bedeviling a Nation cannot be won without the Judiciary.
“The Judiciary should enforce Anti-corruption law, with the fear of Allah, by ensuring that the corrupt people face the full wrath of the law. Consequently, this‘ will guarantee service delivery.
“The Judiciary should advocate for rights promotion in order to enhance accountability”, he said.
The Chief Judge, Justice Kareem Alogba, pledged that judges and magistrates of the state judiciary will continue to dispense justice without fear or favor and in accordance with the law.
Justice Alogba said: “we judges and magistrates in Lagos judiciary have always followed the path of God and will always apply the law as it is and dispense justice to the best of our ability.
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“May the Lord lead us on the path of integrity and lead us aright”, he stressed.
Alogba said that he would seek the cooperation of his colleagues, management staff, stakeholders, and members of the bar to ensure effective service delivery in the state.
He assured members of the public that they would get justice as at and when due.
In his sermon, the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, Rt. Rev. (Dr,) Humphrey Olumakaiye admonished judges and magistrates to continue to uphold righteousness and justice while overseeing disputes before them.
Bishop Olumakaiye remarked that what is needed to salvage Nigeria from the ills that have besieged the country is for the Judiciary to live up to its expectation of upholding justice at all times.
” You need to show that Justice is about the people and not about you. Justice and righteousness are closely linked and complement each other. You must not allow your moral integrity to be compromised.
” To salvage this country which has been besieged by many ills, such an insurgency, kidnapping, corruption, armed robbery, child abuse, etc, it is vital that you are upright and live a righteous life. You must serve God and mankind by upholding justice at the time.”
Chief Imam of Oluwole-Ogba, Imam Sa’adallah Bella, who delivered the Yoruba version of the lecture, admonished judges and lawyers to be honest and truthful when discharging their duties.
He said there can be no peace in the country if the people lose faith in the judiciary.
He said: “The judiciary is the pillar upon which the country stands, if it is shaken, the country will collapse.”
The Grand Chief of Lagos State, Sheik (Engr.) Sulaimon Abu-Nollain his duplication pray to Allah to grant judges and magistrates the wisdom needed to dispense Justice fairly.
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